Guardianship

Under the Child, Family and Community Service (CF&CS) Act, children may come into the care of the Director when they need protection, or on a voluntary basis when their families need support.

Guardianship services are provided when children are taken into the care of the Director due to child protection concerns, or when their families need support through voluntary care agreements. While most children are in care on a temporary basis, others remain on a longer term or continuing basis. Whenever it assumes guardianship of a child, whether temporarily or on a continuing basis, the ministry is responsible for all of a child's needs.

The child's needs are met through a range of out-of-home care services such as foster homes, group homes and specialized resources.

The Guardianship Policy and Standards Branch is responsible for developing policy and practice standards for:

• residential services provided under the CF&CS Act to children and youth in care, including foster homes and specialized resources, and
  
  
• practice by ministry staff delegated to carry out the Director's guardianship responsibilities for children and youth in care, including guardianship social workers and resource social workers.

For more information, please contact your local ministry Child Protection office.